From Tirupati to Ayodhya, Bharat Ratna MS’s Golden Voice Resonates

At Tirupati, if it is rendering of Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi’s Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham that invokes Lord Venkatesa every morning, it is interesting that in Ayodhya too MS’s invocation to Sri Krishna made it to the playlist with the nadaswaram playing her Tamil song during the pran pratishtha ceremony. It was the rendition of her hugely popular Tamil devotional song Kurai ondrum illai — a song set in Carnatic music — in praise of Sri Krishna/ Lord Venkatesa that was written by veteran Congress freedom fighter and former governor general of India CR Rajagoplachari. Of course, there were many South connections and contributions to the making of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.  Most important of course is the beautiful idol of Ram Lalla sculpted by Arun Yogiraj from the unique Krishna Shila stone found in Mysuru. But the “mangal dhwani” that resonated during the consecration ceremony certainly makes for interesting details in its composition. Apparently over 50 exquisite instruments came from 18 different states for this auspicious occasion and resonated for nearly two hours. Asked to comment on the selection of MS’s song at the ceremony, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai linked it with the coincidence of PM Modi listening to rendering of Carnatic music by Sikkil Gurucharan, who is supposed to be related to MS, sitting in Kambar Mandapam at Srirangam temple, near Trichy. It was a musical rendering of Kamba Ramayanam. The BJP leader also shared how his state had hugely contributed for the temple cause, including a single person donating as much Rs 25 cr by cheque.